mantis story part 1

the last half hour was quite eventful and I decided I have to share this with you all...

I already wrote in another topic, that I seem to have a mantis. And some hairy crabs. So I decided I try to get them out.
My first Idea is a mantis shrimp trap. Since I don't know where in the tank the mantis is (I only heard him) but guess, that he is close to a rock where I saw a hairy crab I decided this is a good place to start.
So I wanted to put the trap in the back behind a rock close to the "crab-hole". Well, there the big adventure starts ...

my arms are too short. So after 5 minutes my sleeves were completely soaked and I decided to continue the whole thing in bra only....
Then I realize that I need to weight the trap down. After some time I decided to make a second trap that I read about. A glass with some shrimp in it (the shrimp jumps in it from a rock and can't get out). So I wanted to put the glass on top of the trap.
Well, there was not enough room and I had to shift the rock. After many minutes I literally hang in the tank, both arms on the sand and kinda trap... So, my breast hang in the water too. What fun. (lucky I don't have sharks

Only five minutes later I look if something happens and see, that my brittle star that I brought in on the rock had reappeared and was just inches away from the trap, locking for a nice snack...
So I climbed in again and tried to catch the star and put it on the other side of the tank. Well, guess what ... My glasses drop in the tank and fall between the rocks and I had to dig again...

I hope I catch it since I don't think I should repeat this whole thing when my family is there for the next two weeks

 

LOL... [smiley=yelrotflmao.gif]

I keep tank tops around just for working on my tank for those very reasons!!!

 

HAHAHAHA.

I can just imagine it Similar thing happened to my late wife. My old tank was 30 inches deep and she wanted to test the seal on her scuba goggles.

She was on a stool, bent over the tanks edge at the waist. I was a hot day and she was topless.

If only I had my camera back then

John

 

ah, damn it, the star is back.
this sucks. I don't know what to do with him now

 

How big is the Brittle Star?

John

 

not real big. I had an idea. i use an old breader that I had ages ago for my guppies. it has wholes but not big enough for the star to go through. I'll put that on the floor, upside down. and a little rock in there too. The star will be fine under there for the night. It can hide under the rock.

But now it's hiding and I have to wait for it to come out

 

Sounds like a good plan to me

John

 

Well hoodoo, it sounds like your getting into the fun part of the hobby, good luck with getting the mantis out. I have heard that they are hard to catch.

 

ok, got the star at least...
Didn't like being pulled out by one leg. But let go quit quick. i really hope I didn't hurt him

 

If it is stillmoving all of the arms, it should be ok.